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Monday, 30 September 2013

September Trades Council Report

The September Trades Council discussed a range of campaigns and issues involving union members in the borough. Arrangements for the coach travelling from Lewisham to the NHS demo outside the Tory Conference in Manchester to the financed jointly by us, the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign and others were finalised.

Welfare Campaign

We then discussed ongoing work on this campaign. We focussed on how to turn promises to scrap the Bedroom Tax, end the injustice of zero hours contracts and paying the London Living Wage a practical reality now rather than simply awaiting the outcome of the General Election in 2015.

Disputes

Reports on national disputes involving FBU, CWU, NUT, PCS, UNITE and UCU were given and ways we could support them were identified. Two local disputes need further mention: UNITE members at One Housing Group have made some progress after a series strikes. The union is consulting members on further action. The second dispute involves UCU and GMB at LESOCO where technicians are at risk of redundancy. Rumours abound that management intend to replace technicians with apprenticeships. This is the college that has made millions selling property as result of its merger! The unions will do all the can to stop these redundancies

Campaigns

Progress reports were heard about other campaigns such as the RMT Justice for Cleaners campaign and the PCS fight to stop the closure of Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres. Finally the Trades Council agreed to affiliate to and support the great work of the South London Anti Fascist Group.

We continue our work to support trade union members and others in Lewisham and elsewhere campaigning for a fairer and better society - come and join us!